Three new #500,000 close circuit television schemes have gone live in Bootle, Southport and Waterloo town centres.

Southport has eleven new cameras taking the total in the resort to 26, Bootle sees nine new cameras go live and Waterloo gets eight.

All will be monitored 24 hours a day 365 days a year at Merseyside Police control centre, in Bootle and Sefton Council's Security Services base.

Chief Superintendent Dave Jones said: "The increase in CCTV cameras is a step forward in improving the feeling of safety for the community of Sefton."

Councillor Carol Gustafson, chair of Merseyside Police Authority and Safer Merseyside Partnership, added: "CCTV is a valuable resource in our drive to reduce crime. I am pleased Sefton is able to extend its modern CCTV system which contributes so much to making our community feel safer."

Geoff Lloyd, Sefton's community safety officer, said: "We are delighted that these schemes have gone live.

"We don't want people to think that Sefton is blighted by crime because it isn't. But we know that CCTV can help to play an important role in providing reassurance to Sefton residents.

"CCTV also helps to deter disorder and assists the police. These cameras will survey areas which include pubs and clubs. We hope that their presence will help promote these areas as safe places to shop or socialise."

The news that these cameras have gone live comes two weeks after councillors approved tenders for CCTV at Netherton, Litherland and Southport's Ocean Plaza.